Organic farming and the sustainability of agricultural systems

The desire for a sustainable agriculture is universal, yet agreement on how to progress towards it remains elusive. The extent to which the concept of sustainable agriculture has any operational meaning is discussed. Sustainability is considered in relation to organic farming - a sector growing rapidly in many countries. The role of regulation and the use of synthetic agrochemicals, the desired degree of self reliance of agricultural systems, and the scale of production and trade in agricultural goods are all considered in the context of this discussion of sustainability. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.